Ok ... the rear wheel has been off for almost 2 weeks ( Medical, yard work, difficulty in finding some Moly , etc, etc )

Firstly I have GOT to get less busy in retirement . LOL.. Yard work is interfering with my riding. But... more importantly ..

I have spent over an hour trying to get the wheel back on the splines . It appears to be hanging up on the two spline sets ( I think ) . The air is all out of the rear tire , as well.

The only difference I can see is that the RD and swing arm have now "fallen " to rest, gently on the exhaust . I know the whole system will need to be lifted , eventually to have the axel clear the exhaust . but ....

To wiggle the two bits together , does the RD / swing arm need to be lifted before the two will mate ?

Or is this just a message from the motorcycle riding gods that I should not be out on the road for another month or so ??? LOL

Suggestions and tricks as how to (easily ) get the wheel up onto its drive splines ????

SD, I just put my rear wheel on a week ago. Air in tire, jack up swing arm to meet wheel and just push it on. If you are man handling the whole thing. You maybe getting it "cocked". Everything has to be level and straight.And I know about the retirement thing, Just put a new top on my MX5 took 3 days,cut the grass, let the dog in and out. need to paint the house and shop this summer. Put new timing belt on MX5. Get some riding done. Finish my 1969 R69S BMW Dont know how all this would get done if I still worked

SD - have you connected the senser rod to the swing arm? It should keep the swing arm off the exhaust. There are o-rings that need to be overcome, but should not be a big issue. Once you get the wheel up and on, even if not 100% engaged , put the shaft in with the respective brake spacers and tighten up. Everything should line up and pull in nicely, won't tighten up unless the splines are correctly engaged.

Cheers

"When you write the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen"